It has become a tradition now for the Science Department members to meet and climb Slieve Donard for New Year. This year Derek Bailey, Alasdair Spence and Alan Mc Donnell rose to the challenge and climbed Donard. The climb was tough going with a significant wind chill evident.

A surprising turn of events was Derek Bailey's energetic performance in spite of his age! He led the group for the majority of the climb despite many distractions including a boot malfunction!

Also Alasdair Spence's rather fetching hat and scarf combo attracted lots of attention

It has become a tradition now for the Science Department members to meet and climb Slieve Donard for New Year. This year Derek Bailey, Alasdair Spence and Alan Mc Donnell rose to the challenge and climbed Donard. The climb was tough going with a significant wind chill evident.

A surprising turn of events was Derek Bailey's energetic performance in spite of his age! He led the group for the majority of the climb despite many distractions including a boot malfunction!

Also Alasdair Spence's rather fetching hat and scarf combo attracted lots of attention

Science

Welcome to the science department!

All Shimna students study science in Key Stage 3 and GCSE. The subject is also a popular choice at A Level where students have the choice of study biology, chemistry and physics.

Students explore a range of science topics through a combination of experiments, theory and investigations, and relate their learning to their everyday experiences. The science department in Shimna offers students the opportunity to explore science in an interesting, exciting and enjoyable way.

Key Stage 3

In Shimna we follow the Northern Ireland Curriculum which seeks to empower students to achieve their potential and to make informed and responsible decisions throughout their lives. It is about helping students prepare for life and work:

as individuals;

as contributors to society;

as contributors to the economy and environment.

Key Stage 3 science aims to stimulate students’ curiosity and enthusiasm to develop a sense of wonder in science. Developing skills in scientific methods of enquiry can engage students to develop understanding of the processes of science as well as content of scientific knowledge. Using investigation and practical experiments to increase motivation, support collaborative working and connect learning about science to the real world, students will develop their Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities. Adopting a more enquiry-based and problem centred approach will spur students’ critical and creative thinking. This will encourage them to ask more questions to develop and evaluate explanations of phenomena and events in the world around them. There is a greater emphasis on taking time to learn with understanding, to consolidate students’ knowledge and to enable students in making connections both within science and with other areas of learning. A greater focus on skills and capabilities aims to develop students as independent learners.

Science develops students as individuals by:

helping students explore influences on their personal health and make choices for healthy living;

equipping them to make personal decisions about moral and ethical issues, now and in the future.

Science develops student as contributors to society by:

exploring the advantages and drawbacks of scientific and technological developments for industry, business, medicine and our overall quality of life;

exploring how the media informs us about science and science-related issues.

Science develops students as contributors to the economy and environment by:

gaining an awareness of how the skills and knowledge developed in science can be applied in life and work; exploring the science behind everyday products, particularly those manufactured locally;

gaining an appreciation of the role of science in consumer issues;

challenging students to explore the consequences of their interactions with the environment;

becoming aware of the need for change to be sustainable and the importance of thinking globally, acting locally.

STEM

Our year 8 students have been taking part in a STEM project this year on the subject of polymers. The project involved collaboration with P6 students from our neighbours; All Children’s Primary School. The project kicked off with a very innovative STEM road show called ‘The Magic of Science’. The show was enjoyed not only by our year 8 and P6 students, but also a number of interested parents. The road show was followed by a series of 3 workshops held in our lovely, newly refurbished science labs. Our talented year 8s guided the visiting P6 students through practical investigations, including making slime and making plastic from milk, sharing their knowledge and skills throughout. The final workshop involved modelling polymers, which we did using specialist model kits. Students also made paper models of polymers which the P6 students were able to bring back to their school with them as evidence of their science studies. To conclude the project, all students involved will be attending a trip to W5 Belfast.

GCSEAll students study two GCSE science subjects, Core Science in Year 11 and Additional Science in Year 12. They also have the option to study a third science GCSE. Students follow a modular course in which they study topics in Biology, Chemistry and Physics with specialist teachers. They also have the opportunity to carry out extended experimental investigations in coursework assignments.

Welcome to the science department!

All Shimna students study science in Key Stage 3 and GCSE. The subject is also a popular choice at A Level where students have the choice of study biology, chemistry and physics.

Students explore a range of science topics through a combination of experiments, theory and investigations, and relate their learning to their everyday experiences. The science department in Shimna offers students the opportunity to explore science in an interesting, exciting and enjoyable way.

Key Stage 3

In Shimna we follow the Northern Ireland Curriculum which seeks to empower students to achieve their potential and to make informed and responsible decisions throughout their lives. It is about helping students prepare for life and work:

as individuals;

as contributors to society;

as contributors to the economy and environment.

Key Stage 3 science aims to stimulate students’ curiosity and enthusiasm to develop a sense of wonder in science. Developing skills in scientific methods of enquiry can engage students to develop understanding of the processes of science as well as content of scientific knowledge. Using investigation and practical experiments to increase motivation, support collaborative working and connect learning about science to the real world, students will develop their Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities. Adopting a more enquiry-based and problem centred approach will spur students’ critical and creative thinking. This will encourage them to ask more questions to develop and evaluate explanations of phenomena and events in the world around them. There is a greater emphasis on taking time to learn with understanding, to consolidate students’ knowledge and to enable students in making connections both within science and with other areas of learning. A greater focus on skills and capabilities aims to develop students as independent learners.

Science develops students as individuals by:

helping students explore influences on their personal health and make choices for healthy living;

equipping them to make personal decisions about moral and ethical issues, now and in the future.

Science develops student as contributors to society by:

exploring the advantages and drawbacks of scientific and technological developments for industry, business, medicine and our overall quality of life;

exploring how the media informs us about science and science-related issues.

Science develops students as contributors to the economy and environment by:

gaining an awareness of how the skills and knowledge developed in science can be applied in life and work; exploring the science behind everyday products, particularly those manufactured locally;

gaining an appreciation of the role of science in consumer issues;

challenging students to explore the consequences of their interactions with the environment;

becoming aware of the need for change to be sustainable and the importance of thinking globally, acting locally.

STEM

Our year 8 students have been taking part in a STEM project this year on the subject of polymers. The project involved collaboration with P6 students from our neighbours; All Children’s Primary School. The project kicked off with a very innovative STEM road show called ‘The Magic of Science’. The show was enjoyed not only by our year 8 and P6 students, but also a number of interested parents. The road show was followed by a series of 3 workshops held in our lovely, newly refurbished science labs. Our talented year 8s guided the visiting P6 students through practical investigations, including making slime and making plastic from milk, sharing their knowledge and skills throughout. The final workshop involved modelling polymers, which we did using specialist model kits. Students also made paper models of polymers which the P6 students were able to bring back to their school with them as evidence of their science studies. To conclude the project, all students involved will be attending a trip to W5 Belfast.

GCSEAll students study two GCSE science subjects, Core Science in Year 11 and Additional Science in Year 12. They also have the option to study a third science GCSE. Students follow a modular course in which they study topics in Biology, Chemistry and Physics with specialist teachers. They also have the opportunity to carry out extended experimental investigations in coursework assignments.

Facebook Link

Shimna Chemistry Department is now on Facebook. To view some of our fun demonstrations, look at some of our pictures or to keep updated just follow the link and LIKE our page.